Building covering



Dec 5; 193%., a COX ET AL 2 182372 BUILDING COVER-ING Filed June 17,1938 4- Sheets-Sheet 1 Psec r E. Manse v A7 T Toe/V5345;

Dec. 5, 1939.

s. F. cox ET AL 2,182,372

BUILDING COVERING Filed June 17, 1958 4 Sheeiis-Sheet 5 //v n/E/v TOR'SSaw/051.. FCOK Pgec r EK/VuDSE/V p 7' r02 NE V15.

Dec. 5, 1939. s. F. cox Er AL 2,182,372

BUILDING COVERING Filed June 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 72 fly/.13.

V VE/V T026 Janus. FC' A P 2: r 6'. lwvuosa/v 77 TOIQ/VEY T PatentedDec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE 2,182,372 BUILDING COVERINGApplication June 1'1, 1938, Serial No. 214,247

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to protective facings for roofs or wallsof buildings, and it has particular relation to facings comprisingplates of glass, and notably of tempered glass arranged in 5 overlappingrelation to provide a shingle-like outer covering. v

One object of the invention is to provide a roofing or wall constructionof the foregoing type that requires a minimum amount of glass andsupporting framework.

A second object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionfor clamping the plates to the framework.

These and other objects will be apparent from consideration of thefollowing specifications, and

the appendant claims.

Among the materials employed in fabricating roofs and sometimes the sidewalls of buildings, shingles of wood, or of felt-like material saturated0 with asphalt, are quite common. These materials of course, are ofrelatively low resistance to weathering, and unless kept painted, thelife thereof is comparatively short, and accordingly they are notusually employed upon the better types of construction. Slates and tilehave long enjoyed wide use as sheathing elements in roofs and similarstructures where high resistance to weathering is required. Plates orunits of these various materials are arranged in overlapping courses androws, that provide definite decorative patterns to which the public has.long been accustomed.

Such materials are highly frangible, and breakage due to thermal andmechanical stresses is frequent. Tiles and slates are, also, of a porousnature and the permeation of water into such porous structures, followedby freezing, results in gradual disintegration. They, of course, arequite opaque, and cannot be employed where transparency or lighttransmission is desired.

Common glass has'certain properties, such as great resistance topermeation by water, resistance to weathering, and a high degree oftransparency or translucency which would render it valuable as anexternal sheathing or covering material for both the roofs and the sidewalls of buildings. However, common annealed glass is of such brittle orfrangible nature that mechanical breakage is likely to occur. Moreover,where the units overlap each other, unequal heating occurs and breakageas a result of thermal strains is likely to follow. Breakage as a resultof freezingand expansion of moisture, entering by capillary attraction,condensation, or otherwise, may also result. For these reasons it willbe apparent that danger from falling glass to occupants of the buildingis substantial, unless a backing of wood or some similar material isprovided. Such backng, of course, in addition to being expensive,prevents the transmission of light through a wall 5 or roof, and would,therefore, defeat one of the primary objects of employingglass'shingles' or plates in a roof.

A further serious objection to the use of plates or sheets of glass asshingle units in a roof, has 10 consisted in the fact that when a unitwas cracked or broken, the pieces usually remained in place, and couldnot be detected. Often leakage would occur as a result of such brokenunits, and it would be difficult to detect the source of leakage.Removal of the stub of the broken shingle from beneath the overlappingshingles was frequently difiicult, because it was usually necessaryfurther to break the stub, and might be attended by breakage of adjacentunits. 20

. Since as a result of various types of failures, about 25 per cent ofthe units composing a shingle type glassroof can be expected to break innormal service over a period of time, such replacements must berelatively frequent and the labor involved, as well as the expenseentailed becomes considerable.

For the foregoing reasons glass has not, heretofore, enjoyed anysubstantial use as a roofing material, except in the form of easilyreplaceable panes enclosed in reinforcing sash frames, such as areemployed in the fabrication of windows, skylights, greenhouses, etc.When the glass is supported in frames it is uniformly exposed toradiation through its area, so that there is no differential of thermalexpansion with resultant breakage. Also, no opportunity is afforded forwater to seep between superposed sheets to freeze and cause breakage.Moreover, a broken pane is always completely accessible, and can beeasily detected and removed from its frame, and replaced by simplemethods of glazing, without danger of breakage of additional units. Ofcourse the frames or sashes in a roof were unsightly, and moreovergvvere subjected to rust or decay. Painting on such sashes in a roof inorder to obviate the latter defect, was diflicult and expensive.

The present invention involves the provision of a building in which theroof or side walls are composed of attractive shingle-like plates ofglass, the plates being so tempered or heat-treated that if breakageoccurs it results in the complete shattering of the glass into smalldiced fragments,

that cannot harm objects or persons struck thereby, and which arereadily removed to permit the insertion of a new unit. i

The invention also involves the provision of a simple system in whichthe plates are directly secured to. the rafters or studdings without useof purlins.

As an additional feature, the invention involves the provision ofcertain hollow slotted metallic units suitable for use as a framework tosupport the plates and an improved clamping device for the plates,designed so to grip the edges of the slot as to permit the plates to beshifted along the units to any desired position.

For a better understanding of the invention,

for securing the plates or shingles to the rafters.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a roof showing amodified form of securing device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the device shown inFigure 4, taken on a plane at right angles to the plane of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is. a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified form offrame structure for supporting the roof. 1

Figure 7 is a plan view of a shingle of the typ employed in constructingthe roof illustrated.1

Figure 8 is a plan view of a modified shingle such as is employed in theedge courses 01'- rows of shingles.

.Figure 9 is a plan view of the type ofshingle employed in the cornersof a roof constructed in accordance with the provision of the invention.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a clip or clamp for 1 securing the lowermostcourse of shingles.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view on the clip or clamp shown VinFigure '10.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the form of clips or clamps employed insecuring the shingles along the lateral edges of a roof.

Figure 13 is an elevational view of the cli shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is.a plan view of the type of clips employed to secure theupper corner shingles in place.

Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the clip disclosed in Figure 14.

In the form of the invention illustrated, a framework comprising bars orbeams shown in Fig. 1, is provided. These-beams may comprise the raftersof a building, or may be in the form of simple upright studding. Ineither case, they of course will be in a non-vertical plane. The barsmay be of wood or'similar material, but preferably are hollow forms ortubes of metal.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figure 2 they comprise atube-like member 23, which is formed along its upper face with a slot24, having inwardly bent flanges 25. 1

In the form of'the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 theycomprise simple rectangular tubes 26. I

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figure 6 the beams comprise apair of channel-like members 21 and 28, laid upon their edges and havingtheir flanges 29 disposed in opposed but slightly spaced relation withrespect to each other. In this form of the invention, the channels aresecured together by means of bolts 3|, extended therethrough, and havingsleeves 32 disposed thereabout. Nuts 33, upon the ends of the bolts,serve to clamp the webs 35, of the channels, against the ends of thespacing sleeves.

The shingles 38, best shown in Figures 1 and 7 preferably are ofapproximately quadrilateral outline, and have sides of equal length, andhave their diagonals disposed at right angles with respect to eachother. In the form illustrated, they areapproximately rectangular inoutline, i. e., have diagonals of equal length. However, they may alsobe of diamond shape if preferred. Preferably the corners of the shinglesor plates are clipped as indicated at 39. The diagonal width of eachunit is such that diagonally-opposedcorners can be placed upon alternaterafters or bars. That is, the diagonal width of the shingles equalstwice the spacing between the latter elements. The thickness may beabout one fourth inch. However, this thickness can be varied.

In laying the shingles each unit is disposed diagonally with respect tothe bars or rafters with outer or transversed corners disposed uponalternate rafters to provide horizontal courses 40. The intermediateorvertical corners are disposed in rows upon the intermediate rafters.In the courses the upper corner is overlapped by the lower corner of thenext shingle in the row, and it in turn overlaps the upper corner of thepreceding shingle in the row. .The ends of the plates or shingles in thesame course are slightly spaced with respect to each other, as indicatedat 4|, and are disposed between the overlapping corners of the shinglesin the adjacent rows.

-Corner shingles 42 are approximately right triangles and of dimensionsapproximately corresponding to those obtained by cutting shingles orplates 38 into quarters along their diagonals. Starter or edge shingles43, best shown in Figures 1 and 8 are also of triangular outline, andare of about the dimensions obtained by cutting a shingle 38 intohalves, along one diagonal.

The lower edges of shingles in each succeeding course are disposed inoverlapping relation with respect to the upper edges of the precedingcourse. The overlap indicated at 44 may be varied, depending somewhatupon the slope of the roof, and such like factors. An overlap of two orthree inches is found to be satisfactory for most purposes. Thisoverlap, of course, may be increased or decreased if desired. When theshingles are so arranged it will be apparent that the-major portion ofthe roof comprises'only a single thickness of glass. Accordingly, theamount of glass required, to cover a given area, is reduced to aminimum.

The clips or securing devices 45 for holding the shingles or plates 38upon the rafters or bars may be of the form shown in Figure 5.. It issusceptible of application upon the tubular rafters 26 and may also beemployed for securing the shingles or plates upon wooden rafters orstudding. These clips comprise straps 46, of steel, brass, copper, orother suitable material, pierced to receive simple securing devices suchas screws 41, nails, rivets, or the like. Each clip is formed with anupwardly offset portion 48, of a height sufficient to clear the uppercorner of the preceding shingle. The clips are also provided withportions 49, which overlie the upper portion of the latter shingle, andwhich at their lower extremities are upwardly and backwardly bent toprovide hook 5|, adapted to clamp over the lower cor ner of theoverlying or upper shingle.

The clips 52, disclosed in Figures 2 and 3, are substantially identicalin construction with the clip 45, already described. They are securedupon transverse plates 53, adapted to rest upon the tubular bars 23.Screws 54, securing the clip to the transverse plate 53, are threadedthrough channels 56, that fit over the downwardly-extending edge portion25, upon either side of the longitudinal slot 24. These channels may beof substantially the same length as the beams or rafters 23. However,they may also be cut-into sections of any desired length, and aplurality of sections employed for each of the beams or rafters. It iseven possible to employ a section for each of the beams or rafters. Thelatter construction has the advantage that the clipsmay then be adjustedlongitudinally on the beams or rafters in order to hold the shingles orScrews 6| extending through the clamps or clips and threaded into theelement 60 serve to draw the key members upwardly into the space betweenthe flanges and thus to maintain the clips in proper position. Keymember 60, like channels 56, may be of substantially the same length asthe channels 2'! and 28 or may be cut into any desired number ofsections in order to permit the clips or clamps to be adjustedlongitudinally along the rafters or bars.

The clips or clamps employed for securing the lowermost courses ofplates 42 or starters 43 are of the outlines disclosed in Figures wand11. They comprise straps 65 which are substantially straight throughouttheir length and which at their upper extremities are provided withopenings 66 for screws or other securing devices. The hooked portion 61at the lower extremity of the clamp in cross-sectional outlinesubstantially corresponds to the portion 5| described in connection withthe embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figure 5. However, it is ofa width sufficient, not only to hook over the lower corner of thesuperposed shingle, but to engage the lower edges of contiguoustriangular shingles at the extremities thereof in order to maintain thelatter in position.

The clips or clampsemployed for securing the courses at the end of theroof are of the forms disclosed in Figures 1, l2 and 13. Such clipscomprise strap 10 substantially corresponding to the straps 46 inconstruction, but having in addition lateral arms H which at theirextremities are provided with upwardly bent hooks I2 engaging the edgesof the outermost shlnglesa They may also be provided with adownwardly-projecting flange or lug I3 adapted to engagethe edges of theshingles which are disposed therebeneath.

at their upper outer corners. These clips are substantially of L shapein outline and comprise a body portion 75, which at its lower extremity1s bored as indicated at H, to receive screws or other fastenings. Thestem 18 on the clips projects laterally and at its extremity is providedwith a hook 19 which grips the edge of the shingle at the corner thereofin order to prevent lateral displacement.

The construction of a roof in accordance with the provision of thepresent invention is substantially self evident from the foregoingdescription. Clip or clamp of the type shown in Figure 12 is firstsecured to the outermost or end rafter 20 at the lower extremity thereofand clips or clamps corresponding to that disclosed in Figure 10 arethen secured to the alternate intermediate rafters as shown in Figure 1.A corner shingle 42 is then secured under the hooks of the first two ofthese clips and a row of half plates or shingles 43 of the typedisclosed in Figure 8 are laid all the way across the roof at the loweredge thereof with the clips shown in Figure 10 securing them in positionat the extremities thereof. Subsequently, shingles 38 are of the formdisclosed in Figure 7,, are laid in a course with the lower edgesthereof superposed on the upper edges of the shingles 42 and 43 and withthe lower corners thereof engaged by and secured by the hook portion 61of the securing clamps or clips. After this latter course of shingleshas been laid. a second half shingle 43 is disposed with its apexsubstantially coinciding with the upper corner also of the typeillustrated in Figure 12. Subsequently; a second complete course ofshingles 38 are laid with their lower edges superposed upon the upperedges of the first-mentioned course. This process is repeated until theentire roof area is completely covered. The upper corners of the roofare finished with shingles 42 substantially similar to those at thelower corners. Rotation of these shingles about an axis perpendicular tothe plane thereof is prevented by means of a clip of the type shown inFigure 14. The remainder of this course of shingle is composed of unitsof the type disclosed in Figure 8.

Many advantages are obtained 'from a roof constructed of tempered glassplates or shingles in accordance with the provision of the presentinvention. For example, it will be apparent that a minimum amount ofglass is required completely to close a given amount of space. Only asmall amount of glass is covered by overlapping shingles and therefore,the shingles are placed substantially uniformly and are not subjected toexcessive internal stresses due to unequal heating. It will be apparentthat by reason of the formation of the unit of tempered glass, ifrupture occurs at a point, e. g., point A in Figure 1, the entire unitwill instantly shatter into small round fragments and will drop out.Such breakage, of course, is readily detectable, and the completeelimination of the fragments makes it an exceedingly easy matter toslide a replacement unit into position under the ends of the clamps.This is substantially in contrast to a shingle of. conventional designwhich if cracked, for'example, at the point A might remain in positionand provide a leak which would be diflicult to detect. If the fractureof the glass was sufliciently extensive relatively large pieces might bepermitted to fall and would constitute a great hazard to persons whohappened to be disposed beneath at the time of dislodgment. In manycases where the breakage was not sufliciently extensive to release thefragments of glass, it would be difiicult for the repair man to removethe pieces in order to permit a second unit to be slid into position.Breakageof adjacent unit might readily occur in an attempt to releasethe broken fragments.

By supporting the glass plates or shingles directly upon thenon-horizontal rafters or bars, permits reduction of the amount offramework to a minimum. The light transmitting properties and theappearance of the structure are thus substantially improved.

It is to be understood that the structures herein illustrated are to beconsidered merely as illustrative and that numerous modifications may bemade therein without departure from the spirit of the invention or fromthe scope of the attendant claims.

What we claim is: 1

1. A building having an outer shell, a portion of which compriseslaterally spaced non-horizontal bars, quadrilateral plates of glassdisposed diagonally directly upon the bars with two diagiao Flo

onally-opposed lateral corners resting upon alternate bars and theremaining two corners being over the intermediate bars, and the twolower margins of each plate overlapping a single upper margin of each oftwoplower plates, and means to secure each plate to an intermediate bar,the bars being metallic hollow members which are longitudinally slottedalong their top surfaces, the means to secure the plates to the barscomprising elongate metallic members having portions engaging the topsof the bars on each side of the slots and portions hooking over thelower corners of the glass plates, clamping elements within the bars andscrews extending through the metallic members and the clamping elementsto draw them together to clamp the walls of the bars.

2. .A construction as defined inclaim 1 in which the edges of theslotted hollow members are'i nwardly bent and the clamping elementsengage the edges. 3. A construction as defined in claim 1in which theedges of the slotted hollow members are inwardly bent and the clampingelements comprise inverted channels fittingover the inwardly bent edges.

4. A building having an outer shell; a portion of which compriseslaterally spaced non-horizontal bars approximately quadrilateral platesof glass disposed diagonally directly upon the bars with the twodiagonally-opposed lateral corners resting upon alternate bars andtheremaining two corners being over the intermediate bars, and the twolower margins of each plate overlapping a single upper margin of each oftwo lower plates, and means to secure each plate to an intermediate bar,the bars being hollow members comprising inwardly facing channels havingspaced upper margins providing slots running longitudinally thereof, themeans to secure the glass plates comprising metallic straps havingportions hooking over the lower corners of the plates and rear portionsresting upon the top of the bars, elongated clamping members within thebars and screws extending through the straps and the clamping members todraw the clamping members into engagement with the edges of thechannels.

5. A construction as defined in claim 1 in which the glass plates are sotempered that upon rupture of the surface thereof they shatter intosmall rounded fragments.

6. A'building construction comprising spaced parallel longitudinallyslotted tubular bars and 5 ing upon alternate bars with both of theintermediate corners resting upon intermediate bars, the intermediatecorners respectively overlapping and underlapping a corner of theadjacent plates, clamps for'the plates, each clamp comprising a strap ofmetal hooked at one end over the corner of the plate and extending backunder the plate over an intermediate corner of one adjacent plate andbetween the outer corners of the other two adjacent plates, key membersdisposed in the tubes and bolts securing the clamps to the latter. 1

7. A construction as defined in claim 6, in which the edges of the slotsare inwardly turned a 'd the key elements comprise inverted channelswithin the hollow members gripping. said edges.

8. A construction as defined in claim 6 in which the hollow members haveinwardly-turned edges and the straps are secured to key elements whichcomprise inverted channels within the hollow members gripping the edges.

9. A construction as defined in claim 6 in which the bars are hollowmembers comprising two channels arranged with the'flanges in slightlyspaced relation to provide'slots for bolts securing the straps to thehollow members and are secured together by bolts extending through thechannels and through spacing sleeves between the channels.

10. A building having an outer shell, a portion of which compriseslaterally spaced non-horizontal bars, providing a framework,approximately quadrilateral plates of tempered glass disposed intransversecourses directly upon the'bars with the two diagonally-opposedlateral corners supported by alternate bars and the remaining twocorners being over the intermediate bar, and the two lower margins ofeach plate overlapping a single upper margin of each of two lowerplates, and means to secure each plate to an intermediate bar, theendrow of plates being formed by cutting the quadrilateral plates,approximately along their intermediate diagonals, the intermediatediagonal of the latter plates being parallel to the end of the roof,means for securing the plates in the endrow, comprising metal strapshaving their lower ends hookedover the lower corners of the plates, theupper ends being secured to the end bar, the straps having lateralbranches with portions hooked over the outer edges of the end row ofplates.

11. A building having an outer shell, a portion of which compriseslaterally spaced nonhorizontal bars providing a framework, approximately quadrilateral plates of tempered glass disposed in transversecourses directly upon the bars with the two diagonally-opposed lateralcorners supported by alternate bars and the remaining two corners beingover the intermediate bar, and the two lower margins of each plateoverlapping a single upper margin of each of two lower plates, and meansto secure each plate'to an intermediate bar, the bottom course of platesbeing triangular plates formed by splitting quadrilateral platesapproximately along their horizontal diagonals, and the means forsecuring each tricorresponding plate, the strap being further exangularplate comprising a strap having at its tended under the overlappingplate and secured bottom end wings engaging the ends of two adto thecorresponding bar. jacent bottom plates and having an upturned SAMUEL F.COX.

5 portion hooking over the lower comer of the PERCY E. KNUDSEN. 5

